EU SAFE program delivers first funding to Lithuania

Lithuania has received the first installment of funding under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence initiative, with €956 million disbursed as part of a broader military financing package, national broadcaster LRT reports, citing the Lithuanian Ministry of Finance.

The ministry said the payment represents 15% of the total €6.375 billion loan allocated to Lithuania through the SAFE program. The preferential financing mechanism is designed to strengthen the resilience of EU member states and support the development of their defence capabilities.

The funding follows an agreement signed between Vilnius and the European Commission on May 9, under which Lithuania secured a €6.375 billion defence loan as part of the EU's SAFE initiative.

According to the terms of the agreement, a portion of the funds will be used to cover costs associated with hosting a multinational NATO battlegroup on Lithuanian territory. The force is expected to be built around a German brigade and forms part of broader efforts to reinforce NATO's eastern flank.

The SAFE program is one of the European Union's key instruments for boosting defence readiness and strengthening security cooperation among member states amid evolving regional security challenges.

By Vafa Guliyeva